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34 Players, Six Coaches Represent ECHL In NHL Playoffs

April 14, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release




PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL has 34 former players and six former coaches and a representative on all 16 teams who are competing in the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It is the third consecutive season that there have been more than 30 former ECHL players in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the fifth year in a row that more than 25 players with ECHL experience have played in the NHL postseason. It is the fourth straight time that the ECHL has been represented by six coaches including Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau, who led Mississippi to the Kelly Cup championship in 1999, and Calgary associate coach Jim Playfair, who was ECHL Coach of the Year in 1994-95.

The ECHL has been represented on the last seven Stanley Cup champions including 2007 by Anaheim assistant head coach Dave Farrish, players Francois Beauchemin and George Parros and broadcasters John Ahlers and Steve Carroll.

There are 13 former ECHL players whose names are on the Stanley Cup: Francois Beauchemin and George Parros (Anaheim - 2007), Chad LaRose and Andrew Hutchinson (Carolina - 2006), Ruslan Fedotenko, Nolan Pratt and Andre Roy (Tampa Bay - 2004), Corey Schwab (New Jersey - 2003), Manny Legace (Detroit - 2002), David Aebischer and Nolan Pratt (Colorado - 2001), Krzysztof Oliwa (New Jersey - 2000) and Kevin Dean (New Jersey - 1995). Pratt is the only ECHL player to have his name engraved twice on the Stanley Cup.

The Premier ‘AA' Hockey League, the ECHL has affiliations with 26 of the 30 teams in the National Hockey League in 2007-08, marking the 11th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.

There have been 355 players who have played in the NHL after the ECHL and 210 who have made their debut in the last seven seasons. Twenty-six former ECHL players made their NHL debut in 2007-08 including six who played in both the ECHL and NHL: Chris Beckford-Tseu (Alaska and St. Louis), Adam Berti (Pensacola and Chicago), Joe Jensen (Wheeling and Carolina), Dan LaCosta (Elmira and Columbus), Jonathan Quick (Reading and Los Angeles) and Danny Taylor (Reading and Los Angeles).

There have been over 50 former ECHL players on NHL opening-day rosters each of the past five seasons including a record 69 players this season. In each of the past seven seasons there have been more than 100 players on NHL contracts who have played in the ECHL including 139 in 2007-08.

There have been 26 former ECHL players have made their NHL debut this season: former Peoria Rivermen and Alaska Aces goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu (St. Louis on Feb. 21), former Pensacola Ice Pilots left wing Adam Berti (Chicago on Apr. 4), former Florida Everblades center David Brine (Florida on Feb. 2), former Idaho Steelheads right wing B.J. Crombeen (Dallas on Jan. 19), former Gwinnett Gladiators left wing Kevin Doell (Atlanta on Jan. 4), former Alaska defenseman Zack FitzGerald (Vancouver on Feb. 5), former Columbia left wing Alex Foster (Toronto on Mar. 18), former Fresno goaltender Thomas Greiss (San Jose on Jan. 14), former Roanoke Express and Wheeling Nailers left wing Jason Jaffray (Vancouver on Dec. 12), former Wheeling Nailers left wing Joe Jensen (Carolina on Feb. 18), former Dayton and Elmira goaltender Dan LaCosta (Columbus on Mar. 25), former Toledo Storm goaltender Drew MacIntyre (Vancouver on Dec. 13), former San Diego Gulls left wing Cody McLeod (Colorado on Dec. 19), former Alaska Aces and Pensacola Ice Pilots center Chris Minard (Pittsburgh on Jan. 21), former Columbia Inferno center Brandon Nolan (Carolina on Dec. 22), former Johnstown Chiefs and Fresno Falcons goaltender Dmitri Patzold (San Jose on Oct. 7), former Gwinnett Gladiators and Louisiana IceGators left wing Pascal Pelletier (Boston on Jan. 17), former Reading Royals goaltender Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles on Dec. 6), former Stockton Thunder left wing Liam Reddox (Edmonton on Dec. 7), former Cincinnati Cyclones left wing Greg Stewart (Montreal on Apr. 5), former Gwinnett Gladiators left wing Colin Stuart (Atlanta on Dec. 29), former Bakersfield Condors, Reading Royals, Texas Wildcatters and Wheeling Nailers goaltender Danny Taylor (Los Angeles on Mar. 29), former Columbus Chill, Richmond Renegades and Trenton Titans left wing Pete Vandermeer (Phoenix on Feb. 10), former San Diego goaltender Tyler Weiman (Colorado on Oct. 4), former Charlotte Checkers right wing Craig Weller (Phoenix on Oct. 4) and former Phoenix RoadRunners center Daniel Winnik (Phoenix Coyotes on Oct. 4).

In 2007-08 there were two NHL head coaches (Bruce Boudreau and Peter Laviolette) and 13 NHL assistant coaches with an ECHL background.

Here is a list of the teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs who have ECHL representatives. The ECHL affiliate, where applicable, is listed in parenthesis.

Anaheim (Augusta Lynx) - Assistant coach Dave Farrish (Louisiana, 2000-04 and Pensacola, 2004-05), Francois Beauchemin (Mississippi, 2001-02) and George Parros (Reading, 2004-05).

Boston (Johnstown Chiefs) - Assistant coach Geoff Ward (Arkansas, 1999-2000), Alex Auld (Columbia, 2001-02), Shane Hnidy (Baton Rouge, 1996-97 and Florida, 2004-05), Glen Metropolit (Nashville, 1995-96 and Pensacola, 1996-97) and Tim Thomas (Birmingham, 1997-98).

Colorado (Johnstown Chiefs) - Andrew Brunette (Hampton Roads, 1993-94), Jeff Finger (Reading, 2003-04), Ben Guite (Tallahassee, 2000-01), Cody McLeod (San Diego, 2005-06) and Tyler Weiman (San Diego, 2005-06).

Calgary (Las Vegas Wranglers) - Associate coach Jim Playfair (Dayton, 1994-95).

Dallas (Idaho Steelheads) - Krys Barch (Richmond, 2001-02 and Greenville 2004-05 and 2005-06) and B.J. Crombeen (Idaho, 2005-07).

Detroit - Aaron Downey (Hampton Roads, 1995-97).

Minnesota (Texas Wildcatters) - Video coach Matt Shaw (Mobile, 1997-98), Derek Boogaard (Louisiana, 2002-03) and Todd Fedoruk (Trenton, 1999-2000).

Montreal (Cincinnati Cyclones) - Jaroslav Halak (Long Beach, 2005-06), Michael Ryder (Tallahassee, 2000-01 and Mississippi, 2001-02) and Mark Streit (Tallahassee, 1999-2000).

Nashville (Cincinnati Cyclones) - Assistant coach Peter Horachek (Louisville, 1990-91 and Trenton, 2001-02), Dan Ellis (Idaho, 2003-04), Vernon Fiddler (Arkansas, 2000-01 and Roanoke, 2001-02), Rich Peverley (South Carolina, 2004-05 and Reading, 2005-06) and Jerred Smithson (Trenton, 2000-01).

New Jersey (Trenton Devils) - Sheldon Brookbank (Mississippi, 2001-02).

New York Rangers (Charlotte Checkers) - Daniel Girardi (Charlotte, 2005-06), Scott Gomez (Alaska, 2004-05) and Stephen Valiquette (Dayton, 1996-97; Hampton Roads, 1998-99 and Trenton, 1999-2000).

Ottawa - Chris Neil (Mobile, 1999-2000).

Philadelphia (Wheeling Nailers) - Martin Biron (South Carolina, 1997-98).

Pittsburgh (Wheeling Nailers) - Dany Sabourin (Johnstown, 2000-01, 2001-02, Las Vegas, 2003-04 and Wheeling, 2004-05).

San Jose (Phoenix RoadRunners) - Curtis Brown (San Diego, 2004-05), Thomas Greiss (Fresno, 2006-07), Patrick Rissmiller (Cincinnati, 2002-03), Jody Shelley (Johnstown, 1998-2000) and Mark Smith (Victoria, 2004-05).

Washington (South Carolina Stingrays) - Head coach Bruce Boudreau (Mississippi, 1996-99), Olaf Kolzig (Hampton Roads, 1990-92) and David Steckel (Reading, 2004-05).

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